1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS NOT LOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THAT FOR ME, BUT NOW THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I THINK THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS TIME I HAVE TO PAY 200.00 TO GET THIS FIXED AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TOO. IF I WERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND MY 7 AND 9 YEAR OLDS ARE IN THE BACK SEAT THE ONE THAT IS SETTING BEHIND ME CANNOT GET OUT. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN TO ME. I HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE WHERE MY DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND THAT WAS THE SCARIEST FEELING OF MY LIFE. I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK INTO THE DOOR ASSEMBLY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS STURDY AND DURABLE.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE(MICHELIN LTX M/S). *JG

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, OPENED HOOD TO CHECK, AND FOUND A HOLE IN ENGINE BLOCK, SIZE OF A SILVER DOLLAR. CONSUMER HAD GOTTEN NOTICES FOR CAMSHAFT GUIDE AND RETENTIONER, BUT WAS NOT HONORED BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD GONE OVER THE MILEAGE. CONTACTED DEALER, COULD FIND NOTHING, BUT DID SEE METAL SHAVINGS.*AK

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE REAR DOOR LATCH STOPPED WORKING FROM THE INSIDE. MY CHILD WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO EXIT AND THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS FROM THE OUTSIDE. I BELIEVED THAT MAYBE SOMETHING HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT ON THE DOOR HANDLE TO PULL IT TOO HARD TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK. THE HANDLE IS NO LONGER FLUSH WITH THE DOOR, IT EXTENDS OUT A LITTLE. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I WAS SPEAKING TO MY SONS PRESCHOOL TEACHER, WHO ALSO OWNS A FORD EXPLORER (1996) AND SHE TOO SAID THAT SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER BACK HANDLE. TODAY I TALKED WITH ANOTHER EXPLORER OWNER (1997) WHO SAID THAT RECENTLY, IN THE SAME WEEK, BOTH DOOR HANDLES IN THE REAR HAD BROKE IN THE SAME MANNER. OUR CONCERN IS FOR OUR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO IN THE EVENT NEED TO GET OUT THEIR DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY, WOULD BE UNABLE, UNLESS SOMEONE OPENS FROM THE OUTSIDE.*AK

WHEN TRYING TO PASS, OR EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL COMPLETELY DISENGAGE! THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH IN TWO CASES WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICHLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT'S AS IF YOU INTENTIONALLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THERE IS NO SLIPPAGE, JUST COMPLETE DISENGAGEMENT. I HAVE EVEN HAD IT COMPLETELY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE. BELIEVE ME IT'S REALLY SCARY WHEN YOUR ENGINGE COMPLETELY TACHS OUT AT THIS SPEED. IT'S A WONDER THE ENGINE DIDN'T BLOW BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT TWICE AND REPAIRED ONCE. COSTS TO ME SO FAR IN REPAIRING THIS TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN $3000 AND COUNTING FOR THE LAST TIME. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A FORD DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT. AGAIN, THE TRANSMISSION IS DOING THE SAME THING AFTER 13,000 MILES. WHAT'S BAD IS THAT FORD TECHNICIANS, NOR THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT SHOWS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE TO TAKE IT ON THE ROAD TO SHOW THE MECHANIC HOW IT'S OPERATING WHICH TAKES A PRETTY GOOD TEST DRIVE. AGAIN THEIR ONLY SUGGESTION IS ANOTHER COMPLETE REBUILD SINCE THEY ARE CLUELESS. UNFORTUNATLEY, THIS TIME, IT IS ONE THOUSNAND MILES OVER THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. IF I'M HAVEING THIS TROUBLE, THEN SURELY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, AND IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL OR CONTACT ME. I HAVE ALL MY RECORDS.*AK

USED TIRE WHEREHOUSE PUT TWO WRONG SIZE TIRES ON MY CAR. GREATED 2 1/2 CIRCUMFERENCE. MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY INSPECTOR WHO VERIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE TO MY VECHICLE AS THE LARGE DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUMFERENCE FROM THE FRONT TIRES AND THE REAR TIRES. THE FIRST TIRES BEING 2 1/2 MORE IN CIRCUMFERENCE. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I HAD THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WITH ME 6 MONTHS, 11 YEARS OLD AND 14 YEARS OLD. MY CAR IS ALL FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, SHOULD HAVE THE SAME TIRES. USED TIRE WHEREHOUSE TIRE STATED THAT IT IS COMMIN TO HAVE LARGER TIRES ON THE BACK OF A TRUCK. MY FRONT END NEEDS TO BE RELACED. MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY WHEELS LOCKED. DAMAGE $1900. USED TIRE WHREHOUSE 35516 PACIFIC HWY. SOUTH, FEDERAL WAY WA 8003, OWNER MIKE BARBER, (541) 975-2220.COULD YOU HELP ME? *AK

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE BECAME FLAT, A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER STATED THAT A SOMEWHAT ANGULAR BASALT ROCK HAD PENETRATED THE TREAD AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT, DEALER ALSO STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN OFF OF PAVED ROADS, CONSUMER FEELS THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE TIRES HAVE VERY THIN TREADS AND SIDEWALLS, A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE ANOTHER TIRE FAILED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, CONSUMER HAD THE FRONT TWO TIRES REPLACED AFTER THE FIRESTONE DEALER LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS ON THE TIRES. *ET

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HANDLE KEEPS BREAKING OFF. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT PRIOR TO THE RECALL. THE TIRE RUPTURED WHERE THE SIDE WALL AND THE TREAD MEET. (FIRESTONE TIRES)*YH

FAILED ANNUAL VEH.INSPECTION DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKES. CAUSE OF FAILURE EXTREMELY HEAVY RUST IN HUB AREA THAT SPREAD ONTO THE OUTSIDE ROTOR SURFACE HEAVILY DAMAGING THE ROTOR SURFACE AND BRAKE PAD. THIS WAS NOT A WEAR & TEAR SITUATION AS THE INSIDE PAD AND ROTOR WERE NOT DAMAGED & SHOWED NO ABNORMAL WEAR. MECHANIC REPORTED SEING THIS PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF LOW-MILEAGE FORD EXPLORERS. HE FELT THAT THIS AMOUNT OF RUST WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CASTING.*AK